Bandra Baby With Rare Genetic Disorder Saved After Triglycerides Reach 300 Times Normal
Doctors at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital in Parel have successfully saved the life of a 2.5-month-old baby girl from Bandra suffering from a rare genetic lipid disorder. The infant, who was admitted to the hospital on May 29, had triglyceride levels that reached 42,000 mg/dL—nearly 300 times the normal limit—putting her at immediate risk of a heart attack or stroke.
The baby, the first child of a Bandra couple after four years of marriage, was initially referred to the hospital for heart problems. An X-ray had revealed she had an unusually large heart for her age. However, when doctors drew her blood, they found it was a thick, pinkish liquid instead of normal red.
Tests confirmed the infant had familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD), a rare inherited disorder affecting fat metabolism that occurs in roughly one in a million people. A multidisciplinary team of specialists at Wadia Hospital, including paediatric cardiologist Dr. Sumitra Venkatesh, quickly came together to chart a treatment plan.
To lower the dangerous levels of fat circulating in her blood, the baby was kept off oral feeds and placed on specialized intravenous nutrition for 16 days. Dr. Venkatesh noted that keeping a hungry infant fasting for over two weeks was highly challenging, requiring the team to use a pacifier to quieten her.
Once her triglyceride levels began falling, the medical team designed a safe oral diet. Mother’s milk was ruled out due to its fat content, and importing a specialized feed from the United States was too expensive. To solve this, the hospital’s nutritionist created a custom feed based largely on easily available skimmed milk powder.
By the 19th day of her month-long hospitalisation, the baby’s triglyceride levels dropped to 242 mg/dL, her blood regained its normal colour, and her heart function improved.
Wadia Hospital medical director and paediatric endocrinologist Prof. Dr. Sudha Rao described it as one of the most severe cases she has encountered. While the child will require lifelong dietary fat restrictions, she is expected to grow and develop normally.
The baby's father, a mechanic from Bandra, expressed deep relief at his daughter's recovery, noting that she is now a happy child.
